Atkins Diet Review

The Atkins Diet has drawn a tremendous amount of attention to itself within the last decade and tends to stand for a more modern perspective on losing weight. However, what most people want to know is whether or not it is actually effective and if so, how hard it is to stick with it.

Today, the Atkins Diet is not all that unique anymore. That being said, it was the first major diet of its nature to receive tremendous media attention. Until then, most of the diets that had received media focus consisted only of counting calories or reducing fat. Atkins, on the other hand, concentrates on a different micronutrient: carbohydrates. Equally, it encourages the consumption of proteins instead. The popularity of the Atkins Diet led to not only this common dieting practice, but also the development of many products to complement it, such as books, supplements, bars, shakes, and other food products.

Though it is considered to be a rather modern diet, it was actually created as a low-carb eating plan back in 1972 by Dr. Robert Atkins (who died in 2005). Unlike what people commonly believe, the diet does not attempt to cut all carbohydrates from the daily diet. Instead, it aims to reduce “bad” carbs, such as refined sugar; a process that has shown in scientific tests to lead to fat loss in the body.

This diet plan has evolved significantly over the years as studies have improved the knowledge of how various macronutrients are processed by the body and how that impacts weight loss or weight gain. Today’s Atkins Diet is geared toward both women and men and encourages them to avoid simple sugar carbohydrates and eat more proteins, which are a slow-release energy that allow the dieter to feel full for a longer period of time without rapid weight gain.

PROS

Since Atkins Dieters eat lots of protein and fewer simple carbs, the body has the energy it needs for increased activity levels, while assisting in effective muscle repair and building. No pills or appetite suppressants are required in order to make the Atkins Diet effective, In fact, no specific products need to be purchased after the initial book has been bought and normal food products can be consumed as long as they meet the Atkins Diet requirements.

CONS

This said, there have yet to be any studies to prove that the Atkins Diet’s specific diet plan is effective. Though there is a great deal of information on the official Atkins website, there have been complaints on review sites that mention that it is frequently non-functional. Many people struggle with the foods that must be given up for the Atkins Diet, such as baked goods (like cakes and muffins) as well as foods made from potatoes, breads, and sweets.

Though this is not the diet for everyone, some individuals who do not struggle to stop eating simple carbohydrates can find that they have greater successes in losing weight when they stick to the plan.

Atkins diet has been a life saver for me, after the induction phase, I began to study it like I was going to present a paper on the topic and now my whole family eats the Atkins way and we are truly healthy.

I think this diet can really work, if you are very committed to it. I was willing to give it a try even though all my favorite foods are bread, rice and pasta. I did lose 70 lbs in 6 months, but I don’t think this diet is right for everyone. If it is not done absolutely correctly, it can be a dangerous diet and I think that is why a lot of Drs are against it. Make sure read the book in it’s entirety first.

No matter what I do, I can’t seem to stick to this diet. I’ve tried it twice and it works for a short while, but then I can’t seem to help but cheat because my cravings for bread and sweets is so strong. This is far too hard!

You might want to ask your doctor before making this kind of change when you have type 2. It is typically alright, but it really will mess around with your levels, so it’s best to confirm with your doc.

Just wondering if anyone knows if Atkins is similar to Dukens at all? I am just starting to read up on this Duken diet but I have tried Atkins and did not get very far so am wondering if I am wasting my time with Dukens. Thanks

The first phase of Dukens (Attack) is similar the Atkins in that it promotes an initial phase of high protiens and no carbs. This gets your body into ketoisis, where it is burning fats. Unlike atkins, with Dukens you are only allowed to eat lean meats, fat free dairy, and nothing else. Unlike Atkins, Dukens believes an unlimited amount of fat is unhealthy. This phase only lasts for 5-7 days and then vegetables are introduced. By the end (there are 4 phases I think) All other foods are introduced and the idea is that you can eat what you like but you have to spend one day each week back on the phase one solid protein diet. By sticking to protein one day a week, you can lose 1.5lb to 2lb instantly and, in so doing, correct any excess that may have occurred during the rest of the week.

Atkins worked great for my sister who then gave up on it because she couldn’t stand the cravings for carbs. So she gave me her copy of the book and I’ve now been on it for over a month and it’s working terrific for me. It was hard at first but it doesn’t take long to get over the cravings. A few challenging days are worth all this weight loss

I love this diet. I’ve been on it for almost eight weeks and it’s great. It’s easy to understand the rules, it doesn’t force you to starve yourself, and it really does get the weight off. I found it a little bit hard at first, but I don’t think it was because of cravings but just because I had to get used to it. It was just a bit of a struggle but then after that, it became a part of my regular routine. It’s just a matter of getting your brain wrapped around it so that you think in terms of the rules when you’re choosing your foods. I also like that there aren’t a lot of gray areas that would make you wonder which foods are right. A lot of diets are like that.